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ENLARGEMENT OF MILITARY RESERVATION OF 
FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX. 



HEARINGS 

. ^ /) BEFORE THE 

L( , '^ '.Oil 'Z-^.^::. .,' . .:., 

^COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS 
UNITED STATES SENATE 



ON THE BILL 

S. 5049 

TO PROVIDE FOR ENLARGING THE MILITARY RESERVATION 
OF FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX. 



FEBRUARY 2, 1917 



Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affaire 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1817 



COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
United States Senate. 



GEORGE E. CHAMBERLAIN, Oregon, Chairman. 



GILBERT M. HITCHCOCK, Nebraska. 
LUKE LEA, Tennessee. 
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER, Florida. 
HENRY L. MYERS, Montana. 
CHARLES S. THOMAS, Colorado. 
MORRIS SHEPPARD, Texas. 
J. C. W. BECKHAM, Kentucky. 
ROBERT F. BROUSSARD, Louisiana. 
WILLIAM F. KIRBY, Arkansas. 

Caralyn B. Shelton, Clerk. 

Hubert Grant, Assistant Clerk 
2 



HENRY A. DU PONT, Delaware. 
FRANCIS E. WARREN, Wyoming. 
THOMAS B. CATRON, New Mexico. 
JAMES H. BRADY, Idaho. 
NATHAN GOFF, West Virginia. 
LeBARON B. COLT, Rhode Island. 
JOHN W. WEEKS, Massachusetts. 



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ENLARGEMENT OF MILITARY RESERVATION OF FORT SAM 

HOUSTON, TEX. 



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917. 

United States Senate, 
Committee on Military Affairs, 

Washington, D. C. 
The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m, in the room of the com- 
mittee, Capitol, Senator Geo. E. Chamberlain (chairman) presiding. 
Present: Senators Chamberlain, Thomas, Sheppard, Beckham, 
du Pont, Warren, and Brady. 

The committee proceeded to consider the following bill (S. 5049) : 

A BILL To provide for enlarging the military reservation of Fort Sam Houston, Texas. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed to 
purchase such parcels of land, not exceeding one thousand five hundred acres, adjoin- 
ing the military reservation of Port Sam Houston, Texas, as may be needed for the 
uses of said post, considering present and future needs, and such as may be suitable 
for encampments, maneuvers, and field instruction of the mobile army of the United 
States or parts thereof; and for the purposes of this act there is hereby authorized to be 
expended, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of 
),000, or so much thereof as may be necessary. 



The Chairman. Senator Sheppard, the committee understands 
that you desire to have several persons called with reference to 
Senate bill 5049, providing for enlarging the military reservation at 
Fort Sam Houston, Tex. You may suggest the order in which you 
desire these gentlemen to appear. 

Senator Sheppard. Mr. Chairman, I desire to say by way of 
introduction that the bill now before the committee was a part of a 
program for necessary improvements at Fort Sam Houston, which 
was included in two bills that I introduced during the last session 
of Congress — S. 5048 and 5049. The Secretary of War wrote to the 
chairman of this committee on April 22, 1916, urging the adoption 
of these bills. At the time, however, the committee found it desirable 
to allow us only one of the measures submitted. 

I am now asking that the committee consider the other one, and 
I will ask Mr. Groos, the president of the San Ajitonio Chamber of 
Commerce, to say a few words in behalf of the bill. 

Senator Warren. Before Mr. Groos commences, I would like to 
ask the Senator if he has arranged to have his witnesses appear 
before the Committee on Appropriations, because that committee 
will undoubtedly take this matter up. The matter of several other 
posts has come up in this way. Of course I do not object to its 
coming up in this committee now, but as I say, it will undoubtedly 
come up in the Committee on Appropriations. 

3 



4 ENLAEGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

Senator. Sheppard. I will say to the Senator that I will attend to 
that part of the matter later. I wish to have this committee have 
the data before it, should it consider the matter. 

STATEMEISTT OF MR. FRANZ C. GROOS, CHAIRMAN, SAN AN- 
TONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 

Mr. Groos. Mr. Chaimian and gentlemen of the committee, I 
have the honor to come before you representing the Chamber of 
Commerce of San Antonio, and while we primarily come as repre- 
sentatives of the city of San Antonio to urge the improvement of 
Fort Sam Houston, I hope you will give us credit for patriotic motives 
in that we shall not urge anything except for the benefit of the United 
States Army and the country at large. 

We have worked faithfully and hard in our negotiations for the 
purchase of the land, and in the negotiations for the leasing of the 
property, and in any other manner in which we could be of service 
to the local authorities and Gen. Funston and Col. Rogers and the 
rest of them, as well as your committee here, and we therefore hope 
we have earned your confidence and the privilege of counsel with you. 
We have in every instance, we think, seen to it that the United vStates 
Government gets a fair deal, and that the price for the land pur- 
chased, that we leased, and the different matters of business that 
might come up between the Army and citizens and the community, 
have in all cases been fairly dealt with as far as the Government is 
concerned. 

I shall not go into the matter in detail myself except to testify to 
the fact that this piece of property which is now up for purchase is 
being used for, and is already a part of, the drill grounds and a part 
of Fort Sam Houston itself. It is now under lease with the option 
to purchase. Mr. L. B. Clegg, who represented the chamber of com- 
merce in most of the negotiations with the property owners, will 
testify as to the values and reasonableness of the purchase, and Judge 
James R. Davis, county judge of San Antonio, will testify as to the 
value of this property from a military standpoint and as an economic 
measure at the present day. 

I beg leave to introduce Mr. Clegg. 

STATEMENT OF MR. L. B. CLEGG, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 
SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 

Mr. CleCxG. 'Mr. Chairman, this map shows the propert}' in question. 
It lies between the present Fort Sam Houston and the military 
aviation grounds. As Mi'. Groos has stated, it is now under lease by 
the War Department for drill grounds and is the only piece of ground 
they have on which to drill the troops that we have down there, aU 
the other ground being occupied for camping purposes. 

The Chairman. What rent do they pay for it now? 

Mr. Clegg. It is about 1,078 acres, and the War Department is 
paying $681 and something rent per month — about 67 cents an acre. 
We negotiated the lease at Gen. Funston's request, and the lease was 
based practically on what these people were able to lease to farm 
tenants for. Options have been obtained on all except a piece 
belonging to the M. K. & T. Railway Co., which can be purchased 



ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 5 

at what we consider and what everyone else considers to be a very 
fair commercial price. As a matter of fact the options will expire on 
June 30 of this year, and in our opinion they can not be renewed for 
this price. Last year we estimated that this land would cost prob- 
ably $250 per acre, and the options averaged about $214.50, which 
was better than we considered at that time we could do. There are 
artesian wells on two tracts of this land. The Herff and Eifler tract 
has a 12-inch well and a pumping plant, etc., which they state cost 
them practically $15,000 or $16,000, and they are willing to turn it 
over at that price for use at the present time for irrigating part of the 
tract. On Col. Breckenridge's tract of 60 acres there arc two flowing 
artesian wells, one of 20 inches which flows 16,000,000 gallons per day, 
and one 24-inch artesian well which is claimed by Col. Breckenridge 
to be the largest flowing artesian well in the world. It flows 
25,000,000 gallons per day, and I am told by waterworks experts 
that the value of this well was much more than Col. Breckenridge 
asked for the entire tract. As a matter of fact, that is one tract on 
which I do not think we could get another option at the present 
price, which is $50,000, $200 per acre, and $38,000 for improve- 
ments, which he stated would not cover the money which he had 
spent on it. Col. Breckenridge has retired and has spent a good 
deal of money for his own pleasure on it. 

That, I think, Mr. Chairman, covers the ground as far as I can 
cover it. As I stated, the options expire on June 30 of this year 
and I do not think we can renew them at as reasonable rates as we 
have at the present time. 

The Chairman. We can not get you to do like the Tacoma people 
did, bond your county for about $2,000,000 and make us a present 
of it ? 

Mr. Clegg. At the present time, Mr. Chairman, we are bonding 
the county for all we can for good roads. 

The Chairman. Tacoma the other day offered to present the Gov- 
ernment with a very large tract of land known as American Lake for 
maneuver purposes and the mobilization of a large body of troopis. 
The}^ feel they will be compensated for the expenditures by tne 
presence of a large body of men. 

Mr. Clegg. We have felt that Fort Sam Houston was one of the 
greatest assets that San Antonio had, and for that reason the chamber 
of commerce has always taken the position that anything Fort Sam 
Houston wanted we would very gladly help them to get, and see that 
the Government was treated fairly in all respects, especially as to the 
price it should pay. Some of those people ask $300 an acre for 
the land, and we have options on it for from $200 to $275. 

The Chairman. The average price that you have options for is at 
the rate of $200 an acre ? 

Mr. Clegg. It averages about $214.50, with an allowance of $53,000 
for the artesian wells and pumping plant, which is probably lesb 
than they cost. 

The Chairman. That, of course, from an army standpoint, would 
not add any value to the land if the Government bought it. It 
would be for a drill ground. 

Mr. Clegg. Yes, sir; but the wells are right close to the post, and 
you have your own water tanks there, and the wells can be used m 
connection with the whole of Fort Sam Houston. This 24-inch well 



6 ENLARGEMENT OF EESEEVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

furnishes enough power, running with a turbine wheel, to pump 
water to Col. Breckenridge's residence, pumping water up 150 feet. 
The well is probably about a mile and a half from the residence, and 
it pumps 750 gallons a minute into the tank at the residence with its 
own power. 

The Chairman. You were heard on this proposition before, were 
you not ? 

Mr. Clegg. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Who is your next witness? 

Senator Sheppard. Judge Davis. I take pleasure in introducing 
Judge Davis. 

STATEMENT OF JUDGE J. R. DAVIS, SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 

The Chairman. Judge, you were heard at the last hearing, were 
you not ? 

Judge Davis. Yes, sir; when the two bills were up for considera- 
tion. 

The only matter I desire to present to you now is the economic 
value of this land and the desirability of its immediate purchase. 
The United States Government there now has invested $6,000,000, 
in what is considered the third largest post in the United States, and 
it now finds itself with tremendous evolutions in progress and without 
even a drill ground upon which to adequately drill the soldiers and 
maneuver them when they come there. It is not due to the short- 
sightedness of the Government, because the post has gradually 
been enlarged from time to time and has been gradually increasing 
in strategic value to the Government. Our former drill ground is 
now occupied with cantonments of the Regular Army. The Seventh 
Field Artillery, the Thirty-second Artillery, Signal and Medical 
Corps are now occupying the grounds that were formerly used for 
drill purposes, and those grounds are now covered with tentage. 
Magnificent roads have been built to accommodate the troops, field 
kitchens, and other necessities costing several hundred thousand 
dollars to take care of. This is not an emergency proposition, but a 
need of the Regular Establishment of the Army at that point. 

When we were here before 1 stated that this post was originally 
planned by the Government as a cavalry post, and that carrying out 
that proposition they had established a remount station at San 
Antonio, Tex., and one at El Paso. Just before the mobilization 
of the Army— if I am correct about it — I think there were 11 regi- 
ments of Cavalry in that district. Since that time the San Antonio 
depot and the El Paso depot, I understand from military authori- 
ties, have handled in the neighborhood of 75,000 horses. It becomes 
necessary in the handling of those horses, after they are received in 
San Antonio and El Paso, that they have private stables and other 
necessities, such as medical treatment, and I believe it is a rule to have 
them acclimated for at least three weeks before the}^ are allowed to 
go into service. You gentlemen, of course, being on the Military 
Affairs Committee, are perfectly familiar with all the criticisms and 
experiences that the Army has bad, and I believe the main criticism 
and tlie main defect has been pointed out by the expei'ts as being the 
utter lack — I woiikl not say of intelUgence — but the utter lack of 
military training of the men who come there, and the lack of experi- 



ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 7 

ence on the part of the commanders in teaching in a school for tlie 
soldiers. The men come down there half equiy)ped and utterly ig- 
norant, as far as they are concerned, practicall}' of the rules relating 
to the care of sokliers — the care of themselves in the matter of sani- 
tation — and of health as well as their duties as soldiers. If Fort 
Sam Houston is to be considered as a cavaJry post, how much more 
necessary will it be in the school of the soldier to have adequate 
facilities whereby the sc^klier may not onl}" learn what is necessary 
to know about himself, but about the care of animals, equipment, 
etc., and without suitable ground for drill purposes where he may 
be taught daily there is no chance for him to learn. 

The pomt may be raised that 18 miles above San Antonio there is 
a military reservation, but that is used for the soldier body in the 
movement of troops and for maneuvermg purposes. It is some dis- 
tance away and involves a march of from two to three days to reach 
that station. 

Senator Thomas. Is that north or south of the city ? 

Judge Davis. It is north of the city 18 miles. I want to bring a 
subject up now in case the committee should decide to discuss the 
measure 

Senator Thomas. What is the acreage ? 

Judge Davis. Eighteen thousand acres. That has been used in 
the soldier maneuver divisions from over the United States, but it is 
for practical purposes, for the daily school of the soldiers, for the 
men who are in camp that the land covered by the bill before us is 
needed. For instance, under Gen. Greene, who has a division of 
11,000 men — the remnants of which are there now — this entire tract 
was covered daily with thousands of soldiers employed in various 
military occupations and in the work of the school of soldiers. Any 
morning a person riding out there could witness a most magnificent 
spectacle, and yet that land that these men had to use daily for the 
most useful purpose in the world is only land leased by the United 
States Government, subject to the yearly option to buy. 

The Chairman. Do they use this reservation at all durmg these 
maneuvers ? 

Judge Davis. The land we now wish to buy? 

The Chairman. No; the one 18 miles from San Antonio ? 

Judge Davis. Yes, sir; they usually use that in conjunction. That 
was occupied aU the time, but that is not adapted for this purpose 
here. It is timbered country, and it is for the maneuvers of artillery 
practically and an artillery range. 

Senator Brady. Are there any improvements on that large reser- 
vation that you speak of ? 

Jud^e Davis. There are a great many minor improvements in the 
way of weUs, etc. 

Senator Brady. No; I mean a great amount of permanent im- 
provements. 

Judge Davis. No, sir; in fact, it was intended and bought for 
artillery practice and for pasturage purposes and is now being used 
to pasture a large number of horses that were left when the mUitia 
was being sent home. The purchase of the land now in question 
has been suggested by almost every commander who has been sta- 
tioned at Fort Sam Houston, for necessary drill grounds; and Gen. 
Funston — particularly at the time we came here before, when the 



8 ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

necessity for quartermaster's facilities was being urged — insisted then 
that Senator Sheppard present to the senatorial committee the impera- 
tive necessity of ground for drill purposes for the improvement of 
the soldiers in order that the school of soldiers might be adequately 
carried out, and for that reason we think now is the proper time to 
buy this land, as it will never again be obtainable at the same figure. 
In fact, I notice in one letter where one man said his option after 
June 1 would be raised $5,000. 

Almost all of this land is in a high state of cultivation and subject 
to irrigation. Upon it are wells so magnificent in their flow that the 
pressure turns its own turbine. Breckenridge uses these wells for 
irrigation purposes under power developed by the flow of the water. 
It is, as was stated by Mr. Clegg, one of the most magnificent in the 
world, and to think that the Government can buy that land at this 
price. 

Senator Thomas. What is the amount required to purchase? 

Judge Davis. Three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. 

Senator Thomas. I suppose you know that there are a great many 
little towns in Texas, and a great many other little towns in Colorado 
and other parts of the country, that demand in the aggregate 
$38,000,000 for the construction of public buildings. Do you think it 
would be wiser to use tlie little money we still have in the Treasury for 
a purpose like this, or in the construction of these numerous buildings 
all over the country ? 

Judge Davis. Buildings of what sort ? 

Senator Thomas. Post offices. 

Judge Davis. If you want my judgment — of course T am not a 
military authority — I think that in the condition in which we are now 
situated, and in view of our environment with reference to other 
nations, when soldiers of the character and ability of Gen. Funston 
urge the immediate necessity for land upon which to educate soldiers, 
it is far preferable to post offices or other internal improvements. 

Senator Thomas. I fully agree with you; and I think, too, that the 
posts that we should improve and enlarge are those which are near 
the border where the massing of troops is primarily necessary, and 
where their constant presence is desirable. Your suggestion appeals 
very favorably to me. 

Judge Davis. Take it from the strategic standpoint, since you 
raised that question. Here we are 150 miles from the border, 600 
miles from El Paso, 150 miles from Brownsville, and if you have out- 
side trouble, 240 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, with four direct lines 
connecting San Antonio with Galveston, and capable of the movement 
of any amount of troops in eight hours. 

Senator Thomas. Yes; I think the enlargement of a place for a 
military post like San Antonio is one of the things that justifies the 
expenditure of money now. 

Judge Davis. And it calls for an urgent expenditure, because, as I 
stated hi the beginTiing, here you have S6, 000, 000 hivested, and 
experience has shown you that the War Department, every time it 
has called for mobilization, has seiit these troops to San Antonio, 
the logiciil place. In 1898, Gen. Carter with his division was sent 
there, and the moment this trouble arose every soldier was sent into 
that district. 



ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 9 

Now, there have been, as you know, as high as 150,000 soldiers, 
contiguous to our territory, and supplied from San Antonio and El 
Paso, and I want to say further, as these gentlemen have said, that 
we challenge you or any real estate man, or any set of individuals to 
go to any one of the men. who own this land and buy it at any cheaper 
price than the United States Government can buy it to-day. 

wSenator Thomas, Of course, we all assume that the public spirited 
citizens of San Antonio will protect the Government. If we accept 
your proposition, you will protect the Government against extortion, 
and the exaction of undue prices for this very necessary piece of 
ground. That we must assume. 

Judge Davis. Senator Chamberlain has raised the question 
whether we could not, by a bond issue in the county, present this 
land to the Government. I believe our community is as public 
spirited as any community in the United States, and to show you 
how much we have valued the presence of the military in our district, 
while other counties and other commmiities have complained about 
the destruction and injury of roads by reason of this vast military 
movement — Bexar County has yet to say a word. We have cheer- 
fully taken care of our maintenance, and if you knew the figures 
into which it rmis you would be surprised. Three or four or five 
hundred trucks in daily use do vast destruction to our roads, and we 
have yet to ask the Government a dollar on this account. 

Senator Sheppard. Mr. Chairman, Gen. Bliss has very kindly 
consented, by permission of the Secretary of War, to come here at 
my request to tell us something of the need for this land, as he has 
been at Fort Sam Houston and knows the situation. I shall ask the 
committee to hear him. 

STATEMENT OF GEN. T. H. BLISS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 

Gen. Bliss. Mi-. Chairman and gentlemen, it may be of some 
interest in passing to call attention to the fact that the situation that 
the gentlemen who have been speaking to you referred to at San 
Antonio, is one that has confronted us at few other places. 

The situation is due to the evolutions of this establishment from 
very small beginnings, and in the course of each evolution every step 
seemed to be the fuial one, and no particular thought was given as 
to what might possibly be required later on. 

This station, or this establishment at San Antonio, first originated 
for the reason that before the days of railroads, just as now, San 
Antonio was and is the logical distribution point of supplies for 
everything along that part of the frontier of the United States. At 
a time, quite a number of years ago, when the railroad, I believe, 
reached San Antonio but no farther, all of the posts that we had 
along the frontier from Brownsville along the Rio Grande River well 
on toward El Paso, together with places like Fort Clark and old Fort 
Davis, and a number of others, were located there because this country 
was aU supplied from San Antonio by wagon trains, and for that 
purpose the Government established a large depot and first took this 
piece of land which is represented on this corner of the map [indicat- 
ing], for an Infantry post. They then acquired land which is not 
sho^^'^l on the map,'^but very close to this, on which was located a 
large, heavy stone structure, locally called the " quadrangle building, " 
after the order of a Spanish or Mexican corral on a square, and made 



10 ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

up of storehouses and shelter — a place from which they had to ship 
from time to time to these outlying stations, and the upper stories 
were used as office rooms or headquarters. Then a little farther on 
was a little tract of land which was occupied as the department head- 
quarters of the establishment. The Infantry troops were used as 
guards for these wagon trains from and to Brownsville, Ringgold, 
Mcintosh, Old Fort Duncan at Eagle Pass, and other posts such as 
Clark, Concho, Davis, and a number of others. These posts were all 
supplied by regular trips of these wagon trains from this place. Then 
in the early eighties, due to revolutionary conditions in Mexico that 
had lasted so long prior to the establishment of the Diaz regime in 
Mexico and were still brewing, an additional force was considered 
necessary down there and a battery of Field Artillery was sent to this 
post, which was not then named Fort Sam Houston. That caused 
the acquisition of additional land not shown on the map, in this 
direction [indicating on the map]. 

This post was increased still more by the addition of a Cavalry 
regiment, and with that the post extended from this old Infantry 
post around in a shape more or less like that [indicating], and was 
occupied by liarracks, quarters and storehouses, stables, corrals, 
and gunsheds for these various establishments. Then, in order to 
acquire a very insufficient drill ground, there was finally consum- 
mated in the beginning of 1913 the acquisition of what is known as 
the new driU ground, which on this map would be shown in part 
across this area here [indicating], running down to what is known as 
Austin road. This direction is north and this is east. That was 
insufficient. It was a tract of land of a little over 200 acres and was 
insufficient, even with the size of the garrison that then existed. 
The maneuver division, so-called, was concentrated at this place 
[indicating] and occupied all that ground at the beginning of the 
revolution, which is more or less stiU continuous in Mexico. 

At that time the citizens of San Antonio contributed money to 
erect a very handsome large chapel, located somewhere about here 
[indicating]. Additional barracks, noncommissioned officers' quar- 
ters, bakeries, etc., were established here. I think I am pointing a 
little too far down. It was in here [indicating]. That resulted in 
leaving tliis tract of land for which you appropriated money a year 
ago, injected into the military situation. Here [indicating] was the 
old military post and liere were the Government drill grounds, etc., 
occupied by barracks and various other buildings, and this was 
occupied by a very undesirable part of the community. You gave 
the money to acquire that, and it is now being acquired, and also 
money to erect warehouses and storehouses which are very neces- 
sary by reason of the relation of that post to the railroads. There 
is one railroad, I think it is the M., K. & T., that owns a right of way 
and has a tract just east of the military reservation. 

Senator Sheppard. Yes. 

Gen. Bliss. The Southern Pacific had a terminal right in front 
of this quadrangle that I spoke of. Now the spurs are to be run 
from this railroad into this area where the storehouses will have to 
be erected which are necessary in connection witli tlie existing 
border situation, wliich will doubtless continue for some time to come. 

The Chairman. Do you contemplate that that will always be used 
as a military post for such a large body of troops ? 



ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 1 1 

Gen. Bliss. Not so large as there have been during this past 
year when we were cnlhng out the National Guard, but in the relo- 
cation of troops which will become necessary on the withdrawal of 
the National Guard, which I personally think will be accomplished 
in the not very distant future unless something should happen on 
the border that is not now anticipated, the Regular Army will have 
to take care of that border situation for an indefinite time to come. 

The Chairman. Will you always require as much land as that 
for the troops that you would maintain there in ordinary times of 
peace ? 

Gen. Bliss. In speaking of the situation that it is anticipated will 
last for some time yet. Gen. Funston, as I was going to say, in the 
relocation of these troops would have four mounted regiments here 
in addition to what they have had before, and they will occupy for 
an indefinite time the cantonments that were put up for the National 
Guard and for the small part of the Regulars that were also camped 
in that division. 

vSenator Thomas. What is the department's recommendation re- 
garding this, if you know ? 

Gen. Bliss. The Secretary of War told me I could say to the 
committee that he cordially approved the proposition as a very 
desirable thing in connection with the extension of that post. 

Senator Sheppard. I have a letter here from the Secretary which 
I will, with the permission of the committee, put in the record. 

The Chairman. We would like to have it. I thought probably 
the General would be able to answer the question. 

(The letter referred to is here printed in full as follows:) 

War Department, 

Washington. April 22. 1916. 
Hon. George E. Chamberlain. 

Chairman Committee on Military A/fairs, 

United States Senate, Washington, D. C. 
My Dear Senator: Senate bills. Sixty fourth Congress, first session, No. 5048, to 
provide adequate supply depots and terminal facilities at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., 
and No. 5049, to provide for enlarging the military reservation of Fort Sam Houston, 
Tex., would accomplish what is greatly needed at Fort Sam Houston. 

This department advocates the passage of these bills. I request your favorable 
action on them as soon as practicable. 
Very respectfully, 

Newton D. Baker. 

Secretary of War. 

Gen. Bliss. Now to complete the stoiy of the origin of the post as 
it is, there was bought here, I do not know how long ago, a tract of 
land for a ttirget range for this command, but verv shortly after the 
range was established there was an injunction obtained against it 
on account of the danger to people who were working land in that 
vicinity. That is what led to the acquisition of this tract at Leon 
Springs of some 17,000 acres, which was obtained for a very small 
sum as compared with the area that was purchased, and v/hich is 
used as a target range ])y the infantry for machine guns and for the 
lie'd artiUery. It is a very wild, broken, uncultivated tract of land 
mostly covered with timber, except where it has been c'eared for 
this range purpose. It is very rocky and can not be cultivated at 
all for agricultural purposes, nor couM it be used for building or 
drilHng purposes. I thought it was about 25 miles by road from the 
post, but these gentlemen say IS. It is used solely for large maneuver- 



12 ENLARGEMENT OF EESEEVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

ing and target range purposes, and will provide for the training of 
that kind of a large hody of men. 

Senator Brady. It is not adapted for any other purpose? 

Gen. Bliss. No, sir; it is not adapted for any other purpose. When 
I was in the command we had troops march in turn all the way from 
Brownsvi'Je to all the stations along the river. When their practice 
season hegan, if there was nothing to require their presence on the 
river, the organizations would march from Browmsville, taking about 
18 days to march for the artillery. They wou'd go and camp at 
Leon Springs and go into practice. It is so large that by no possi- 
bility cou^d you fire a shot off the reservation, and therefore it is 
perfectly safe. 

Now as to the acquisition of this land, which these gentlemen have 
described to you in detail, it will just extend to the old target range. 
The old target range, by the way, is used in part for aviation train- 
ing. The War Department is engaged now in securing, as rapidly as 
the material can be provided, three aero squadrons, at least one of 
which wiU be permanently kept there and the others distributed 
throughout the country where they are needed. It is an excellent 
location by reason of its climatic conditions. 

Senator Thomas. Have you any large body of water near San 
Antonio ? 

Gen. Bliss. The largest body of water that I know of is a river — 
the San Antonio River which rises in one of these springs that are 
common in that country, I think within the city limits of San Antonio, 

Senator Thomas. I had reference to a lake or a large body of water 
rather than a smaU river. 

Gen. Bliss. Mitchell Lake is about 12 miles, but that is really a 
cesspool. The sewage, I think, of part of the city goes into that. 
There is also Lake Medina, which is an artificial lake. 

Senator Thomas. Admiral Peary told me some time ago that a 
coinparatively small body of water in the vicinity of an aviation 
military school would be amply sufficient to permit of hydroelectric 
training as well as military training, which is the basis of ni}^ inquiry. 

Gen. Bliss. I think there are two there for that purpose, but as to 
flowing streams, I think probably Salado Creek, with the addition it 
gets from this artesian well, is as large a body of water as there is in 
the immediate vicinity of San Antonio, with the exception of the 
San Antonio River. 

This land is cultivated. It is more or less rolling, and some part 
of it is pretty rough and covered — or was until Gen. Funston got 
authority to lease it a few months ago — with mesquite — and I think 
he has cleared an amount of that off. 

Now, that wiU give any garrison that would be liable to be kept 
there under ])eace conditions, ample ground for the kind of in- 
struction we now do, and give instruction in trench digging, and of 
course with mounted troops. They have to have their horses and 
hurdles and ditches and obstructions of all kinds, and the land is also 
favorably adapted for drilling of Infantry. 

The Chairman. You think it is essential that the Government 
should own it? 

Gen. Bliss. I think it is most desirable. 

Senator Sheppard. That is aU, Mr, Chairman. I have here a 
letter from the Secretary of War and a statement from Gen. Funston 
that I would like to put in the record. 



ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 13 

The Chairman. They will be inserted. 

(The letter and statement referred to are here printed in full, as 

follows:) 

January 25, 1917. 
From: Commanding General. 
To: The Adjutant General of the Army. 
Subject: Additional land for Fort Sam Houston Reservation. 

1. Referring to my telegram, No. 2768, of September 6, 1916 (copy herewith), and 
to your reply, No. 3796, September 14, 1916 (copy herewith), the following is sub- 
mitted. 

2. Leases have been made, as shown below, for the land in question. Options for 
the purchase of tliis land have been granted by the lessors, the term of such option 
purchase expiring with the term of the lease, including the renewal provisions. An 
accurate survey of all of this land has been made and the areas are shown in letter 
of the Department Enginee? herewith, also in the following statement. Copy of 
each lease is also inclosed. 



Name of lessor. 



P.A.Ward 

Harry Landa 

H. Eisenhauer 

Geo. W. Brackenridge. 

Herflf & Eiffler 

P. A. Vance 



Acreage as 
leased. 



116 
239 
135 
60 
280 
172. 16 



Total. 



1,002.16 



Monthly, 
rental! 



SlOO. 00 
100. 00 
100.00 
60.00 
218.00 
103. 20 



681. 20 



Actual 
acreage as 
surveyed. 



103. 59 
240. 49 
225. 79 
60.68 
277. 61 
170. 32 



1,078.48 



Option 

price per 

acre. 



(') 

$225. 00 
225.00 



Total pur- 
chase price. 



S21, 018. 00 
54,110.25 
50, 802. 75 

2 50, 000. 00 

3 70, 000. 00 
38, 322. 00 



284, 253. 00 



1 S200 for 91.59; S225 for 12. 

2 $50,000 for entire tract. 

3 $70,000 if purchased before June 30, 1917; if pin-chased between July 1, 1917, and June 30, 1918, $75,000. 

3. The following information relative to wells on this land is furnished by the 
owners: 

On the Brackenridge tract there are two large artesian wells and on the Herff and 
Eiffler tract one large artesian well, all of which are capable of furnishing large quan- 
tities 01 pure, potable water. The well on the Herff and Eiflier tract is approximately 
730 feet in depth, of 12 inch diameter, with a flow of approximately 2,500.000 gallons 
per dav. Of the two wells on the Brackenridge tract, one is 24 inches in diameter, 
depth about G33 feet, daily flow approximately"25.000,000 gallons; the other, 20 inches 
diameter, daily flow approximately 16,000.000 gallons. These two w-ells have devel- 
oped a force equivalent to 52 horsepower. They are connected with two Goulds 
tri])lex plunger pumps, installed in a two-story reinforced concrete pump house. 
The pumps are mani])ulated by water turbine in connection with the two wells; they 
deliver water to an elevation of 150 feet above the plant. The output at this point, 
150 feet above the location of the plant, is estimated at 750 gallons per minute. 

4. In addition to the foregoing, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Co. owns a 
tract of land consisting of 102.36 acres, adjoining the land already leased and herein 
before described. In order to proi^erly complete and round out the reservation, it 
is considered desirable to acquire this railroad land. Copy of letter from I\Ir. W. A. 
Webb, chief operating officer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, regarding this 
tract is inclosed herewith. It is self-explanatory. This tract would probably cost 
from $35,000 to 340.000. 

5. As already stated in previous correspondence, the purchase of all of this land is 
considered to be imperatively necessary in order to provide .sufficient drill and maneu- 
ver grounds for troops stationed at this post, and in order to cover the purchase of the 
leased land on wliich options have been granted, as above stated, and also the land 
of the Missouri. Kansas & Texas Railway Co., for the required purposes. I request 
and urgently recommend that the matter be presented to Congress at its present 
session, with recommendation by the War Department that necessary legislation be 
enacted authorizing the purchase of said land at a cost of •?330,000, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary. It is recommended that this matter be presented before Congress 
at the earliest possible moment in order that the necessary legislative authority for 
the purchase may be obtained during the present session. 

6. Three copies of plat showing the several parcels of land comprised in this propo- 
sition are mailed under separate cover this date. 

Frederick Funston, 

Major General Covimanding . 



14 ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 

United States Senate, June 16, 1916. 
My Dear Senator Chamberlain: Please file the inclosed letter from the Secretary 
of War to Hon. James Hay in reference to the bills (S. 5048 and S. 5049) for additional 
facilities and additional land at Fort Sam Houston, with the papers relating to these 
bills, and oblige. 

Yours, very truly, 

Morris Sheppard. 
Senator George E. Chamberlain, 

Washington, D. C. 



War Department, 
Washington, June 9, 1916. 
Hon. James Hay, 

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, 

House of Representatives , Washington, D. C. 
My Dear Mr. Hay: 1. With reference to your letter of May 29, 1916, regarding 
the extent to which it is absolutely necessary to increase the supply depots and ter- 
minal facilities at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., and what reason there is for enlarging the 
military reservation at that post, you are informed as follows: 

2. The needs for additional storage facilities and additional facilities for handling 
property are now urgently felt at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. The present depot there 
was built when the Army consisted of only 25,000 men, and only a very small part 
of it was supplied from that point. As the Army has grown and as the number of 
troops in the Southern Department has increased, the demands made upon the depot 
have also increased, whereas the facilities at that point have remained almost sta- 
tionary. The result is there is now much duplication of labor, loss of time in handling 
supplies, and scattering supplies in Government storehouses and in storehouses rented 
in various parts of the city of San Antonio. 

Due to present inadequate storage accommodation, under the emergency which 
recently arose along the Mexican border, it has been necessary to have large quantities 
of supplies sent by special trains from northern and eastern depots, resulting in loss 
of time and increased cost to the Government. The existing arrangemenis for receiv- 
ing and distributing supplies at Fort Sam Houston are inadequate and expensive. 
Additional land should be purchased in suitable places for modern storehouses, depot 
buildings, offices, shops, corrals, etc., and double-switch track connections with the 
main line of the G. H. & S. A. R. R. and double switch connection with the main line 
of the M. K. & T. Ry. should be provided in order that the Government may have 
the valuable benefit of access to these two lines of railroad, both for ordinary business 
and for emergency purposes, when prompt movement of large bodies of troops and 
the quick shipment of trainloads of supplies become necessary. The general supply 
depot at San Antonio should include proper depot facilities for the Quartermaster 
Corps, Medical Department, Corps of Engineers, and Signal Corps. The Ordnance 
Department will have sufficient facilities in San Antonio Arsenal and in the storehouses 
that now exist at Fort Sam Houston. Increase in the supply depots and terminal 
facilities above indicated is, therefore, absolutely necessary for economy and military 
efficiency. 

3. The post of Fort Sam Houston is peculiarly well located not only as a supply 
point, but also as a station for the Regular Army and as a training place for citizen 
soldiers. The reservation as it exists to-day is too small for the present garrison to 
have reasonable facilities for drilling. The land which it is proposed to add to the 
reservation can be secured now at a reasonable figure, as it has not yet been incorpo- 
rated within the limits of the city of San Antonio. It is contiguous to the present 
reservation, and well located and well adapted for the purposes for which it is con- 
templated to use it. 

4. It has been learned from the commanding general. Southern Department, that 
the amounts provided for in Senate bills Nos. 5048 and 5049, Sixty-fourth Congress, 
first session, are considered reasonable. 

Very truly, yours, 

Newton D. Baker, 

Secretary of War. 

The Chairman. Tlie committoo will now adjourn. 

(Accordingly, at 11.45 o'clock a. ni., the committee adjourned, 
subject to the call of the chairman.) 



TTR B 



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